Matthias Harris, a jeweller and silversmith had a business in Southgate St and was, by 1826, a builder of 11, Forefield Place. Together with his trustee Samuel Saunders he is responsible for the building of the Prior Park Buildings and Prior Park Cottages. He achieves elevation to gentility in the 1830 Directory of Bath. He dies in 1874 with a substantial estate, including No 9 Prior Park Buildings.
William Gould, a mason who worked on the development, owned No 8 the Cottages and No 12 the Buildings. When the moment came for the houses to be released, borrowed money had to be repaid or, as was the case with both these artisans (neither of whom could write) an extension negotiated with a house as collateral. William Gould lost No 8 the Cottages in 1832.
Samuel Saunders a professor of dancing and deportment, maintained an establishment in Milsom Street and taught dancing at the Theatre Royal. He also become a gentleman, living in Ivy Cottage, Lyncombe Hill. He was reported to have accumulated considerable wealth in land and property and his son became a lawyer, ending up as Recorder of Bath.
Courtney Babbage, a carpenter who worked on the development, owned No 6 of the Cottages and No 8 of the Buildings. He borrowed £300 in 1821. This loan becomes a mortgage at 5% from John Bull, gentleman. Courtney never manages to pay off the mortgage and he loses No 8 the house which is also his workshop and outbuildings in 1844.
William and John Terry were blacksmiths/brightsmiths who worked on Nos 17,18 and 19 of the Buildings and Nos 9 and 10 of the Cottages. William Terry and his mother Hanna ran an Ironmongery business – “Hanna Terry and Son” at 9 & 10 New bond Street. In 1818 Hanna dissolved business and a new business was formed with his brother John. They made/sold stoves, grates, balconies and general iron work which would have been essential items for the houses. Hanna Terry was the first owner of 17 Prior Park Buildings.
The brothers went Bankrupt in 1829 and the business was sold in 1832 including 18 and 19 Prior Park Buildings (advertised at the time as 19 and 20 Prior Park Row).
Thomas Greenway was a plasterer and maker of plaster work. He was renowned for his skills and worked on many houses in Bath
John Pittard worked on 13,14 and 16 the Buildings
Edmund Miller was a builder and worked on Nos 1 and 10 of the buildings and No 3 of the Cottages. Later he lived in No 2 the Cottages. He was born 22nd Oct 1775 at Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire, England Died Jun 1849. In 1810 he Married Ann Butler in St James Church, Bath. In 1794 he was an apprentice carpenter in Norfolk
John Burgess Possibly built No 4 the Buildings
Merrett Owned the Widcombe Lower Mill at the when the houses were being constructed and held the rights to the water from the stream.
John Pinch the Building Construction Pioneer. One of the characteristics of houses designed by John Pinch is thinner exterior walls. Making the walls thinner enables the shutters to be folded back against the wall as opposed to houses constructed with thicker walls where the shutters have to be folded back into the recess of the window. There are likely to be other benefits of this type of construction such as low cost and improved light penetration. John Pinch is known to have pioneer this type of construction using special “T”shaped stones to join the party wall to the front and rear exterior walls of the house. Having this type of construction supports the view that Prior Park Buildings were designed by John Pinch.
Soloman Manly
James Pearce
John Thornton
John Sumner
John Brown